The City of Egegik operates a public water/sewer system. Egegik's water is supplied by a combination of three wells; one serves as a primary well and the others as alternates. Two storage tanks are used comprised of an indoor 8,000 gallon tank and an outside 100,000 gallon tank. Most households and public facilities are plumbed and connected to the public water and sewer system. Two residences are not connected to sewer. The Icicle Seafoods facility derives processing water from School Lake and obtains water for general use from the city.

RUBA Status & Activities This Qtr:

On January 25-29th RUBA staff presented and sponsored a 32 hour Utility Clerks Training in Dillingham. The citys administrative assistant attended and sucessfully completed the course and was as well was awarded with the top of the class reconigation. The community continues to operate a solid waste incinerator, emergency electrical power generator, community facility site, water treatment plant, and local fish processing facilities.

RUBA Activities for the Coming Qtr:

RUBA recommends continued efforts to maintain satisfactory essential indicators and remains available to assist with utility management upon request.

Scores:

Essential Indicators:

26 of
27

Sustainable Indicators:

25 of
27

Total Score:

51 of
54

Finances

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

All revenues and expenses for the utility are listed in the utility budget.

Yes

The utility has adopted a balanced realistic budget.

No

Monthly financial reports are prepared and submitted to the policy making board.

Yes

The utility is current in paying all water/wastewater electric bills.

Yes

The utility has on hand a year's adequate fuel supply or it has a financial plan to purchase an adequate supply.

Yes

The utility is receiving revenues (user fees or other sources) sufficient to cover operating expenses.

The city council adopted an FY 2010 water/wastewater budget that is balanced and realistic. Staff provides the city council with a monthly financial report produced in QuickBooks along with a separate spreadsheet outlining departmental details. Revenues through February 2009 are trailing expenditures due to the engineering and design of a new water well that is anticipated going out to bid within the next quarter with construction and online scheduled for summer.Revenues do indicate enforcement of the collection policy and ability of the city to subsidize. The city subsidizes it's departments with raw fish sales and use tax. The utility is current on bills including electricity and presently has sufficient fuel supplies on hand. The city has a Bridge Loan in place. Water/wastewater rates for residents are presently $60 per month. Water/wastewater revenues include a subsidy, primarily raw fish tax revenue.
The water operator presents monthly verbal operational reports to the council; the administrator presents utility financial reports.

Accounting Systems

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has adopted a collection policy and actively follows it.

Yes

The utility bills customers on a regular basis.

Yes

An accounts receivable system is in place which tracks customers and reports past due accounts and amounts.

Yes

An accounts payable system is in place.

Yes

The payroll system correctly calculates payroll and keeps records.

Yes

A cash receipt system is in place that records incoming money and how it was spent.

Yes

The utility has a cash disbursement system that records how money was spent.

Sustainable Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

A chart of accounts is used that identifies categories in a reasonable, usable manner.

Yes

Monthly bank reconciliations have been completed for all utility accounts.

Yes

The utility has a purchasing system that requires approval prior to purchase, and the approval process compares proposed purchases to budgeted amounts.

Accounting Systems Comments

The city council serves as the water/wastewater governing body and enforces the utility ordinance. The ordinance includes a comprehensive collection policy.
The city is consistently billing for water/wastewater services. RUBA recommends continued consistent billing of user fees. RUBA will provide an optional monthly financial report format for review by city staff.
Staff use QuickBooks for bookkeeping and produce a supplemental spreadsheet-based monthly financial report for city departments including the water/wastewater utility. QuickBooks is used for accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll processing.
Staff maintains cash receipt and disbursement records.
Staff completes bank reconciliations monthly. Staff utilizes a procurement policy for purchases. All checks require two approved signatures.

Tax Problems

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has a system to accurately calculate, track, and report payroll tax liabilities.

Yes

The utility is current on filing tax reports.

Yes

The utility is current on making tax deposits.

Yes

If there are any past due tax liabilities or recorded tax liens, a lien release has been issued or a repayment agreement has been signed and repayments are current.

Tax Problems Comments

City staff calculates, tracks, and reports payroll tax with QuickBooks computerized accounting software.
Concerning taxes, staff indicate state and federal tax deposits and reports are submitted timely.
RUBA staff received from Taxpayer Advocate Federal Tax Information on 03/31/10 that the city is deemed compliant by the IRS. On 03/23/10, the Alaska Department of Labor (DOL) confirmed the city is meeting Alaska Employment Security tax obligations for the quarter ending 12/31/09.

Personnel System

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has a posted workers compensation insurance policy in effect.

Sustainable Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has adopted and uses a Personnel Policy, which has been reviewed by an attorney, AML or Commerce for topics and language.

Yes

The utility has adequate written job descriptions for all positions.

Yes

The utility has adopted and follows a written personnel evaluation process that ties the job description to the evaluation.

Yes

The utility has an adequate written hiring process.

Yes

The utility has personnel folders on every employee that contain at least: I-9, Job Application and Letter of Acceptance.

Yes

The utility has a probationary period for new hires that includes orientation, job training/oversight, and evaluations.

Yes

The utility provides training opportunities to staff as needed and available.

Personnel System Comments

The city workers compensation policy is through AMLJIA. The city provided the Employer's Notice of Insurance that indicates coverage 07/01/09-07/01/2010. The Division of Worker's Compensation website indicates Policy Number 113 is current and in place on 04/01/10.
Staff abides by a well-written personnel policy, maintains comprehensive personnel files, and has satisfactory job descriptions in place. The comprehensive personnel policy is included in the code of ordinances.
The city council supports staff development and training.

Organizational Management

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The entity that owns the utility is known; the entity that will operate the utility is set.

Yes

The policy making body is active in policy making of the utility.

Yes

The policy making body enforces utility policy.

Yes

The utility has an adequately trained manager.

Yes

The utility has an adequately trained bookkeeper.

Yes

The utility has an adequately trained operator or operators.

Yes

The utility has adopted the necessary ordinances (or rules and regulations) necessary to give it the authority to operate.

Sustainable Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has adopted an organizational chart that reflects the current structure.

Yes

The policy making body meets as required.

Yes

The utility complies with the open meeting act for all meetings.

Organizational Management Comments

The city council serves as the utility board, meets regularly, and actively enforces utility policy.
The administrator, formally trained in accounting and with over 10 years of advanced financial management experience for municipalities, serves as the primary bookkeeper. The city administrator oversees all public works programs including the water/wastewater utility and city projects. The administrator also serves as a water operator. An experienced administrative assistant assists with recordkeeping and reports directly to the city administrator. A trained water operator reports directly to the city administrator and oversees day to day utility operations.
Water/wastewater operator staff are trained, certified, and participate in training opportunities.
Utility staff is cross-trained for tasks including utility maintenance and operation, water/wastewater maintenance of private wells and septic systems, heavy equipment, and streets and roads.
Concerning the category entitled organizational, city has in place a comprehensive water/wastewater ordinance. RUBA recommended review of the ordinance in comparison to the sample published by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
The city council meets as required and complies with the Open Meetings Act.

Operation of Utility

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility operator(s) are actively working towards necessary certification.

Yes

The utility has a preventative maintenance plan developed for the existing sanitation facilities.

Sustainable Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The manager receives a monthly O&M report from the utility operator and routinely "spot checks" the facilities to see that the maintenance items are being completed.

No

The utility has a safety manual and holds safety meetings.

Yes

Utility facilities have not suffered any major problems/outages due to management issues that are unresolved.

Yes

The utility is operating at the level of service that was proposed.

Yes

The operator provides status reports to the manager on a routine basis.

Yes

The utility has completed and distributed its "Consumer Confidence Report".

Yes

The utility is not on the "Significant Non-Complier" (SNC) list.

Yes

The utility maintains an inventory control list.

Yes

The utility maintains a critical spare parts list.

Operation of Utility Comments

The water operators are trained and plan to maintain certification for water and water treatment, water distribution, wastewater collection, and wastewater treatment.
Utility staff maintains a preventative maintenance plan and maintains contact with regional Remote Maintenance Worker staff.
The city administrator as utility manager, is a certified and experienced water operator, and spot checks facilities and utility staff work routinely.
The utility has not suffered any major outages lately and is operating at the level of service that was proposed.
RUBA recommends safety meetings and suggests formation of a safety committee.
Operators provide reports to the city council at their monthly meeting. At the conclusion of the visit RUBA provided a brief overview to the administrator and mayor.
The utility completed its 2008 Consumer Confidence Report and submitted it timely.
RUBA obtained a copy of the utility's inventory control list and critical spare parts list from the utility's current Operations and Maintenance Manual.
RUBA recommends employee safety meetings be held regularly to help ensure continued success with utility operations.